UEFA fines Porto $1.6M and warns of potential European ban for unpaid debts

Porto, the two-time European champion, has been hit with a hefty 1.5 million euro fine by UEFA and faces a potential one-year ban from European competitions due to unpaid debts. The club has been placed on probation for two years, with the ban looming if they fail to meet solvency requirements in the next two seasons.

The new club president, André Villas-Boas, who previously served as Porto’s coach and later went on to manage Chelsea and Tottenham, has inherited this financial crisis. The threat of a ban has put pressure on the club to rectify its financial situation quickly.

In addition to Porto, two other clubs, Shakhtyor of Belarus and Adana Demirspor of Turkey, have also been banned for one season for failing to comply with UEFA financial rules. These bans will come into effect the next time either club qualifies for a UEFA competition through the 2026-27 season.

The UEFA panel, which monitors the financial accounts of clubs participating in European competitions, has cracked down on several clubs for overdue payables, including unpaid debts for wages, transfer fees, and social taxes. Porto, despite earning significant revenue from UEFA for their Champions League performances, has found themselves in hot water due to these financial irregularities.

Other clubs, such as Galatasaray and Real Betis, have also been fined by UEFA for similar infractions, highlighting the importance of financial fair play in European football. The repercussions of these sanctions serve as a warning to clubs across the continent to manage their finances responsibly to avoid facing similar penalties in the future.